1. Leaving the Awning Out
This is a classic rookie mistake you’ll often hear about in RV circles, and sure enough, we fell right into it. At our second stop after hitting the road, we encountered a sudden storm that brought heavy rain. We quickly realized that we had left our awning out, and a huge puddle was forming right in the middle, weighing it down dangerously.
Our (Not-So-Bright) Solution: In our panic, we grabbed a broom and tried to push the water off the awning. Unfortunately, this caused the awning to retract suddenly—right while our RV door was wide open! The next thing we knew, a tidal wave of water rushed straight through the door, flooding the front area of our RV.
For a moment, Chico and I just stared at each other, soaked and stunned, before we scrambled to mop everything up. And, in true RV fashion, we quickly learned how limited our towel supply was and how much we’d need to catch up on laundry!
Lesson Learned: If there’s even a hint of bad weather on the horizon, pull in the awning. This incident has made us much more cautious, and now we never leave the awning out in questionable weather.
2. Underestimating Travel Time
When we first started traveling, we had ambitious travel goals, often booking campgrounds that appeared to be 4-6 hours away on the map. Half a day of driving didn’t seem so bad if it meant reaching our next amazing destination.
What We Discovered: It didn’t take long to realize that 4-6 hours could easily stretch into 6-8 hours. With bathroom breaks, meal stops, and occasional traffic or construction, our days would quickly get long. Arriving after dark was far from ideal for setting up camp, and some campgrounds wouldn’t even allow late arrivals.
Lesson Learned: We now plan our travel in 2-3 hour stretches and communicate any delays with our destination to create a backup plan if needed. Though it makes travel days longer, this slower pace has brought so much more peace to our journey.
3. Ignoring Potential Leaks
RVs and campers come with their own set of maintenance needs, and they’re often not designed for full-time living. From mechanical issues to leaks, we learned early on to keep a watchful eye.
Our Scary Moment: While camped in Arkansas, the kids were working on their online classes, and I was busy with remote work when smoke suddenly began billowing from beneath the kitchen sink. A leak from around the sink edge had dripped down into an electrical outlet installed directly underneath (why anyone thought that was a good idea is beyond us!). Water had seeped into the outlet, causing it to spark and start a small fire.
Thankfully, we were able to unplug the RV and put the fire out quickly. The damage was minimal, limited mostly to the outlet and surrounding area.
Lesson Learned: Always keep an eye out for leaks or potential maintenance issues. And if you’re customizing or using outlets, double-check their placement to avoid potentially dangerous spots like under the sink.
4. Choosing Campsites that Fit Our Needs
As a family with remote work and school needs, reliable internet is a top priority for us. This has sometimes limited our options for campsites, and we learned pretty quickly what works—and what doesn’t.
What We Discovered: We use Starlink for internet (highly recommend!), but not every campsite works well with it. In state and federal campgrounds, we’re often surrounded by trees, which can make reliable internet access a challenge.
Lesson Learned: When booking campsites, we now look up reviews, check photos, and call ahead to ensure a clear view for internet access. If internet is crucial for your household, it’s worth planning ahead so you can enjoy remote locations without sacrificing connectivity.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Friends
At first, we were a bit shy about chatting with fellow campers. As two somewhat introverted people, Chico and I found it intimidating to introduce ourselves. Plus, with four energetic kiddos in tow, we worried about being judged.
What We Discovered: As we traveled more, we found many families and individuals eager to chat and share stories. We met like-minded people who were also on journeys to find adventure and fulfillment, and many have become great friends. Now, we look forward to meeting up whenever we cross paths.
Lesson Learned: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Making friends as an adult can be tricky, but we’ve found that surrounding ourselves with positive, adventurous people has enriched our journey. Embrace the camaraderie of the road—it makes the travel experience even better!
Final Thoughts
Every mistake we’ve made has taught us something valuable. As we continue our RV journey, we’re sure more lessons will come our way, but that’s all part of the adventure. We hope sharing our rookie mistakes can help you avoid a few of your own. Safe travels and happy adventuring!
